Clamp for tie rod with stress-relieving means

ABSTRACT

A clamp for restraining a tie rod in a concrete form utilizes a base plate having outwardly-extending ears with aligned openings through which a locking member is inserted to restrain a cooperating tie rod. That tie rod has a transverse opening therethrough to receive that locking member; and that locking member is restrained by the outwardly extending ears and by a releasable stress-relieving member. That stress-relieving member has inclined faces which releasably abut the locking member; and that stress-relieving member is pivotably mounted on the base plate. That stress-relieving member has a torque arm which can apply enough torque to the stress-relieving member to disengage it from the locking member. The clamp may be mounted on conventional vertical concrete form, such as modular or gang forms using plywood faces, horizontal walers and vertical stiff back members. The clamp is adapted to receive one end of a tie rod which extends inwardly through the plywood face of the concrete form and which will be imbedded within the mass of concrete; and the other end of that tie rod will be suitably secured adjacent the opposite side of the mass of concrete. That tie rod has an opening which can be aligned with the openings in the outwardly-extending ears of the clamp, and the locking member will be disposed within all of those openings. That tie rod may have additional axially-spaced openings to provide adjustment of its position in relation to the form face, thus accommodating varying concrete wall thicknesses. That tie rod may have a further opening therein expressly for the purpose of facilitating removal of that tie rod from the set concrete, either by facilitating rotation of that tie rod or facilitating direct outward movement of that tie rod.

United States Patent Underhill 1 1 CLAMP FOR TIE ROD WITH STRESS-RELIEVING MEANS [76] Inventor: Norman R. Underhill, 1933 Karlin Drive, Village of Town and Country, Mo. 63131 [22] Filed: Nov. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 420,213

[52] US. Cl. 249/219 R; 249/213 [51] Int. C13. E04G 17/08 [58] Field of Search 249140-46, 249/190-191, 213, 219 W, 214-218; 248/205 R; 52/698-701 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.682.740 9/1928 Colt 249/42 1.850.402 3/1932 Lampert 249/217 2.297.899 10/1942 Krueger 249/196 2.578.309 12/1951 Kroczek 51/125 2.825.956 3/1958 Shoemaker 249/41 3.241.802 3/1966 Lawrence 249/219 W 3.357.672 12/1967 Capek 249/45 3,690,613 9/1972 Shoemaker 249/40 Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Assistant Examiner-John McQuade Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Rogers, Ezell & Eilers ABSTRACT A clamp for restraining a tie rod in a concrete form utilizes a base plate having outwardly-extending ears 1 Dec. 23, 1975 with aligned openings through which a locking membet is inserted to restrain a cooperating tie rod. That tie rod has a transverse opening therethrough to receive that locking member; and that locking member is restrained by the outwardly extending ears and by a releasable stress-relieving member. That stressrelieving member has inclined faces which releasably abut the locking member; and that stress-relieving member is pivotably mounted on the base plate. That stressrelieving member has a torque arm which can apply enough torque to the stress-relieving member to disengage it from the locking member. The clamp may be mounted on conventional vertical concrete form. such as modular or gang forms using plywood faces, horizontal walers and vertical stiff back members. The clamp is adapted to receive one end of a tie rod which extends inwardly through the plywood face of the concrete form and which will be imbedded within the mass of concrete; and the other end of that tie rod will be suitably secured adjacent the opposite side of the mass of concrete. That tie rod has an opening which can be aligned with the openings in the outwardlyextending ears of the clamp and the locking member will be disposed within all of those openings. That tie rod may have additional axially-spaced openings to provide adjustment of its position in relation to the form face. thus accommodating varying concrete wall thicknesses. That tie rod may have a further opening therein expressly for the purpose of facilitating removal of that tie rod from the set concrete, either by facilitating rotation of that tie rod or facilitating direct outward movement of that tie rod.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 23, 1975 CLAMP FOR TIE ROD WITH STRESS-RELIEVING MEANS Background of the Invention Vertical concrete wall-forming systems now in use generally utilize a form face to contain poured concrete. That form face is commonly made from plywood, molded fiber glass plastic, metal, or a combination thereof. In use, that form face is usually disposed in a vertical position, it must withstand the outwardlyacting pressures which are generated by the mass of poured concrete, and it must help define the outer surface of that poured concrete. That form face is supported by a structural framing system which will include supporting members such as walers and stiff backs; and that structural framing system helps confine the concrete and helps give it the desired shape. The form faces are usually held against movement away from each other by a tieing system which includes steel rods or fabricated wire ties that are clamped to the framing system and that can withstand tensile forces. The cast concrete exerts an outwardly-acting force, and thus loads the framing system, as well as the form faces in compression. The tensile forces in the tie rods will increase, and the compressive forces in the framing system also will increase, as the height of the liquid concrete in the forms increases.

In recent years, cast concrete structures have become larger and larger, and concrete has been placed in vertical wall forms at faster rates. Also, economic factors have motivated the construction industry to use fewer concrete tie rods per unit of volume of concrete, so the number of hours required during form erection and tieing could be reduced. As the number of tie rods in a given concrete structure is reduced, each individual tie rod has to support a greater load; and the structural framing system has to be designed to withstand correspondingly higher local stresses. Tieing systems now in common use are designed for tie loads of three thousand pounds per tie, five thousand.pounds per tie, thirty-five thousand pounds per tie, and even higher tie loads. When the load on a tie rod is above ten thousand pounds, it is extremely difficult to disengage and remove a conventional tie-clamping device from that tie rod because of the magnitude of the frictional forces which develop between that tie rod and that tie-clamping device. Several conventional tie-clamping systems use sliding clips or claws to engage restraining buttons on the tie rods; but such tie-clamping systems become unsatisfactory when the tensile forces in the tie rods exceed ten thousand pounds. Most of those sliding clips or claws are formed from sheet metal or are cast; and they tend to become distorted because of the magnitude of the forces between them and the tie rod ends, or they tend to become so tightly engaged with the tie rod ends that they cannot be separated from those tie rod ends without being severely damaged or destroyed. The art has attempted to meet this problem by providing tieing systems which can withstand heavy loads because they use tie rods which have threaded ends. Those tie rods have ends which usually are provided with a National Coarse thread or an Acme thread; and large washers encircle those ends, and nuts are threaded onto those ends. However, threaded end tie rods have the distinct disadvantage of making it difficult to attain proper spacing of the form faces the use of such tie rods usually making it necessary to use internal spacers, intermediate clips or hairpins adajacent each tie rod end. Such threaded-end tie rods have the further disadvantage of loose pieces such as the nuts and washers and those loose pieces are easily lost or misplaced when removed from the forming system and when they are being carried around the job site.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a clamp for releas ably securing high load concrete tie rods to forming systems. That clamp uses a stress-relieving member which holds that tie rod fixed until the concrete in the forming system has set; and then that stress-relieving member can be used to reduce the stresses and the friction loads which were developed by the hydraulic force of the concrete. Thereafter, the concrete forms can easily be removed from the concrete. That clamp engages one end of a tie rod which passes through the form and which is fixedly secured at the opposite side of the proposed concrete mass. In accordance with common practice, the middle section of the tie rod, which will be contacted by the concrete, can be of several-readily accepted types, namely; (1) a tapered middle section which will permit the entire tie rod to be withdrawn from the concrete, (2) a constant-diameter middle section encased within an exterior sleeve so that constant-diameter middle section can be withdrawn; (3) a threaded middle section which will remain in the concrete while she-bolt or stud-rod ends are removed, and (4) other standard middle sections. The clamp provided by the present invention has a base plate with outwardly-extending ears having openings therein which are adapted to be aligned with a similar opening in the tie rod; and a locking member is disposable within all of those openings. That locking member cooperates with the openings in those outwardly extending ears and with the opening in the tie rod to restrain that tie rod against rotational movement about its major axis and against unlimited inward or outward axial movement.

Variations inevitably develop in the positions of the form faces as concrete forms are erected; and the openings in the outwardly-extending ears of the base plate and the opening in the tie rod are made large enough to accommodate those variations. A releasable stressrelieving member has spaced inclined members which are movable into position between the outwardlyextending ears of the base plate to engage the locking member. That releasable stress-relieving member is pivotable about one end thereof; and it has a torque arm at the other end thereof so a rotative force may be applied to that releasable stress-relieving member to cause that releasable stress-relieving member to move the spaced inclined members away from the locking member. By displacing the torque arm further from the pivot point than the spaced inclined members are displaced from that pivot point, sufficient mechanical advantage is provided to allow those spaced inclined members and that locking member to be separated even though the contact forces between those spaced inclined members and that locking member are quite large. Normally the strength possessed by an average workman is more than enough to cause the releasable stress-relieving member to move the spaced inclined members away from the locking member. Under extremely high loads, however, it may be necessary to rotate the releasable stress-relieving member by subjecting the torque arm thereof to a sharp upward blow, or it may be necessary to apply additional leverage to that torque arm by using an extension lever or cheater". It will be appreciated that the releasable stress-relieving member will be constructed of material that is sturdy enough to permit that releasable stressrelieving member to withstand repeated applications of force without being damaged or distorted. When the spaced inclined members are separated from the locking member, the engagements between that looking member and the outwardly-extending ears on the base plate and the tie rod will be loose, because the opening in that tie rod and the openings in those outwardlyextending ears are larger than the cross section of that locking member. Both the locking member and the spaced, inclined members preferably are constructed of a hard steel for optimum durability.

The locking member has a projection thereon, and the opening in one of the outwardly-extending ears on the base plate has a complementary notch contiguous therewith; and that projection and that notch are located so that locking member must have a specific orientation as it is moved into position within the aligned openings in the tie rod and in the outwardlyextending ears on the base plate. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, that projection and that notch will keep the locking member from being moved into position within the aligned openings in the tie rod and in the outwardly-extending ears on the base plate whenever that projection is at the bottom face of that locking member, and also will keep that locking member from being moved into position within those aligned openings when that projection is at the upper face of that locking member and that locking member is being moved from left to right. By permitting that locking member to be moved into position within the aligned openings in the tie rod and in the outwardlyextending ears on the base plate only when that projection is at the upper face of that locking member and that locking member is being moved from right to left, that projection and that notch make it practical to give that locking member optimum configurations for the inner and outer elongated faces thereof. Specifically, that projection and that notch make it practical to give the inner elongated face of that locking member an inclination which is the same as the inclinations of the spaced inclined members on the releasable stressrelieving member; and that projection and that notch make it practical to give the outer elongated face of that locking member a curvature which is the same as the curvature of the outer portion of the opening in the outer end of the tie rod. Those configurations provide large areas of contact between that locking member and those spaced inclined members, and also provide large areas of contact between that locking member and that outer portion of that opening; and those configurations also effectively minimize any tendency of the locking member to shift or tilt as the poured concrete applies forces to that locking member via the tie rod.

When the locking member has been removed from the openings in the outwardly-extending ears and from the opening in the tie rod, that tie rod can be removed from the set concrete by any one of the following methods: (l) by tapping the small end of that tie rod to loosen that tie rod so that tie rod can be pulled out of the concrete if that tie rod is a tapered tie rod, (2) by using a tie "puller" if that tie rod is a constant cross section tie rod with an exterior sleeve, and (3) by rotating the stud-rod" end or "she-bolt" to remove it from the middle section of the tie rod which will remain within the concrete. After the tie rods are removed, the forms can be stripped away from the set concrete.

Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a partial, front elevational view of one preferred tie rod clamp that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, and it shows part of the form face, parts of the form stiff backs, and the clamp in position on those stiff backs,

FIGv 2. is a partial side elevational view taken along the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on a larger scale, that is taken along the plane indicated by the line 4-4 in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, on the scale of FIG. 4, that is taken along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring in greater detail to the drawings, a plywood form face 6 is reinforced and stiffened by reinforcing walers 8 and stiff backs 10. A tie rod 16 has a tapered end which is located outwardly of the form face 6; and that tie rod extends inwardly past the stiff backs 10, past the walers 8, through an opening 60 in the form face 6, and through the space to be filled with concrete. The far end of that tie rod will be suitably fixed and held in the manner customarily used in the trade. The outer end of the tie rod 16 has spaced holes 20 and 22 therein as shown particularly by FIG. 3.

A base plate 26 is secured to the stiff backs 10 by clips 30 and bolts 28, as shown particularly by FIG. 3; and a centrally-located opening 54 in that base plate accommodates the tie rod 16. outwardly-extending ears 32 and 33 are provided on the base plate 26; and those ears are located on opposite sides of the opening 54. The opening 20 in the tie rod 16 is adapted to be aligned with an opening 34 in outwardly-extending ears 32 and with an opening 35 in outwardly-extending ear 33. A locking member 36 is dimensioned so it can be disposed within the openings 20, 34 and 35; and the end 38 of that locking member is tapered slightly to facilitate passage of that end into and through those openings. As shown particularly by FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner longitudinal face 42 of the locking member 36 is flat and inclines downwardly from upper left to lower right, and the outer longitudinal face 43 of that locking member is convex and has the same curvature as do the outer portions of the openings 20, 34 and 35. Although FIG. 3 shows the opening 20 in the tie rod 16 in exact alignment with the openings 34 and 35, the opening 20 can, and frequently will, be displaced axially from the position shown by FIG. 3 prior to the time the concrete is poured. As the concrete is poured, the outer edge of the opening 20 will move axially inwardly and will intimately engage the convex elongated outer face 43 of the locking member 36. At such time, the outer edge of the opening 20 will be displaced inwardly relative to the outer edges of the openings 34 and 35.

The numeral 37 denotes a notch which is contiguous with, and which extends upwardly from, the upper edge of the opening 35 in the outwardly-extending ear 33; and that notch is displaced to the left of the center of that opening, as that notch and opening are viewed in FIG. 5. That notch is dimensioned to permit a projection 40, which is shown as being an Allen set screw threaded into the upper surface of the locking member 36, to pass freely through it. The projection 40 is displaced to the left of the center of that locking member 36, as that projection and locking member are viewed in FIG. 5; and hence that notch and that projection require that locking member to have a predetermined, definite orientation whenever that locking member is to be disposed within the openings 20, 34 and 35. Specifically, that locking member must have the projection 40 at the upper surface thereof, and it must have the inclined elongated face 42 thereof confronting the base plate 26 whenever that locking member is to be disposed within the openings 20, 34 and 35. If the projection 40 is at the upper surface of that locking member but the elongated convex face 43, rather than the inclined elongated face 42, of that locking member confronts the base plate 26, that projection will be intercepted by the outwardly-extending ear 32 before the tapered end 38 of that locking member can be fully lodged within the opening 35 in the outwardly-extending ear 33. If the projection 40 is at the lower surface of the locking member 36, the projection 40 will be intercepted by one or the other of the outwardly-extending ears before the tapered end 38 of that locking member can be fully lodged within the opening in the other of those outwardly-extending ears. This is important, because it makes certain that the convex elongated face 43 of the locking member 36 will have a surface-to-surface, rather than a mere line-to-line, engagement with the outer end of the opening in the tie rod 16; and also because it causes the inclined elongated face 42 of that locking member to incline downwardly from upper left to lower right as that inclined elongated face confronts the base plate 26 in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Positioned above the opening 54, and also positioned above the outwardly-extending ears 32 and 33, is a stress-relieving member 44 which is pivotably attached to the base plate 26 by a pivot bolt 48. That stressrelieving member has replaceable, downwardlydepending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46; and those members are located so they can be moved downwardly into the space between the outwardlyextending ears 32 and 33, and also are located so they are at opposite sides of the opening 54. Either or both of the members 46 may be replaced by removing screws 58 which normally secure those members to the stress-relieving member 44. As a result, a worn set of downwardly-depending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46 can easily be replaced by a new set.

The other end of the stress-relieving member 44 had the form of a torque arm 50; and upwardly-directed and downwardly-directed forces that are applied to that torque arm will cause the stress-relieving member 44 to rotate about the bolt 48. Each of the downwardlydepending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46 has a surface 56 thereon which confronts the elongated inclined surface 42 on the locking member 36 when the stress-relieving member 44 is in the lowered position shown by the drawings. A stop 52 is provided on the base plate 26 to hold the downwardly-depending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46 at the same level relative to, and squarely in the path of, locking member 36 whenever that stress-relieving member is in that lowered position.

At the time the tie rod 16 is assembled with the concrete form which has the plywood form face 6, the horizontal walers 8, and the stiff backs 10, the tapered outer end of that tie rod will extend outwardly through the hole 60 in that plywood form face, will extend outwardly past the walers 8 and the stiff backs l0, and will extend outwardly through the central hole 54 in the base plate 26. The opening 20 in that tie rod will be generally, but need not be precisely, aligned with the openings 34 and 35, respectively, in the outwardlyextending ears 32 and 33. The locking member 36 will be oriented so the projection 40 is at the upper surface thereof and so it is aligned with and confronts the notch 37; and then that locking member will be successively telescoped into the openings 35, 20 and 34. The projection 40 will easily pass through the notch 37, but it will halt further movement of that locking member when it engages the right-hand side of the tie rod 16, as that tie rod is viewed in FlGS. 1 and 3. Once that locking member has been set in position within those openings, the stress-relieving member 44 will be rotated into its lower position. Because the projection 40 can pass through the notch 37 only when the locking member 36 has the orientation shown by the drawings, the elongated convex face 43 on that locking member will be confronting the concave outer ends of the openings 20, 34 and 35, and the elongated inclined face 42 will be confronting the base plate 26 and will be parallel to the surfaces 56 on the downwardly-depending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46.

At this time, the surfaces 56 on the downwardlydepending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46 will be displaced outwardly of the inner edges of the openings 34 and 35, respectively, in the outwardly-extending ears 32 and 33. As a result, the elongated inclined edge 42 of the locking member 36 also will be displaced outwardly of the inner edges of those openings. That elongated inclined edge may or may not be in engagement with the surfaces 56 on the downwardly-depending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46, and the elongated convex surface 43 may or may not be in engagement with the outer end of the Opening 20 or the outer ends of the openings 34 and 35, respectively, in the outwardly-extending ears 32 and 35; but, importantly, that elongated inclined edge will be displaced outwardly of the inner edges of the openings 34 and 35, respectively, in the outwardly-extending ears 32 and 35.

At this time, the locking member 36 will coact with the opening 20 in the tie rod 16 and with the upper and lower edges of the openings 34 and 35, respectively, in the outwardly-extending ears 32 and 33 to limit circumferential movement of that tie rod. Also, that locking member will coact with the opening 20 in that tie rod, with the surfaces 56 on the downwardly-depending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46, and with the outer ends of the openings 34 and 35, respectively, in the outwardly-extending ears 32 and 33 to limit axial movement of that tie rod inwardly or outwardly of the hole 60 in the form face 6. As a result, the initial position of that tie rod is closely defined and fixed by the locking member 36, by the surfaces 56 of the downwardly-depending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46, and by the upper, lower and outer edges of the openings 34 and 35, respectively, in the outwardly-extending ears 32 and 33.

When the concrete is placed in the form, that concrete will cause large tensile forces to develop in the tie rod 16, and also will cause large compressive forces to develop in the forming system. Those tensile and com pressive forces will drive the elongated inclined face 42 of the locking member 36 into intimate engagement with the surfaces 56 on the downwardly-depending, spacedapart, inclined members 46, and can apply forces as high as thirty-five thousand pounds to that locking member. The surfaces 56 will be able to withstand such forces, and will continue to keep the elongated inclined edge 42 of that locking member disposed outwardly of the inner edges of the openings 34 and 35, respectively, in the outwardly-extending ears 32 and 33.

After the concrete has set, an upwardly-directed force will be applied to the torque arm 50 of the stressrelieving member 44; and, thereupon, that stress-relieving member will move upwardly and will move the surfaces 56 out of engagement with the elongated inclined edge 42 of the locking member 36. The inclinations of the surfaces 56 and the inclination of the elongated inclined edge 42 make the movement of those surfaces out of engagement with that edge both immediate and easy. As soon as the stress-relieving member 44 has been moved upwardly, appreciable gaps will appear between the elongated inclined edge 42 on the locking member 36 and the inner edges of the openings 34 and 35, respectively, in the outwardly-extending ears 32 and 35; and those gaps will effectively relieve all tensile and compressive forces on the outer end of the tie rod 16 and on that locking member. Thereupon, that locking member can easily be slid out of the openings 34, 20 and 35. Thereafter, the tie rod 16 can be suitably separated from the cast concrete; and the base plate 26 can be removed from the stifi backs 10 until it is needed again.

The surfaces 56 on the downwardly-depending, spaced-apart, inclined members 46 will coact with the plane of the stress-relieving member 44 t0 subtend angles which must .be substantially less than 45. ln the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those surfaces coact with that plane to subtend angles of about 7'; but those surfaces could coact with that plane to subtend somewhat larger angles if it ever became desirable to do so.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

1 claim:

1. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod holding means which can be moved into a position wherein a portion thereof extends through an opening in a tie rod that is used with said concrete form, at least one restraining projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive another portion of said tie rod holding means whenever said tie rod holding means is in said position and thereby restrain said tie rod holding means, and hence said tie rod, against substantial rotational movement relative to said clamp base, and stressrelieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said tie rod holding means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said tie rod holding means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said tie rod holding means being movable into its said position wherein said other portion thereof is within said space in said one restraining projection and the first said portion thereof extends through said opening in said tie rod and said stressrelieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said tie rod holding means and also in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said tie rod holding means whenever said stress-relieving means and said tie rod holding means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stressrelieving means and said tie rod holding means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said tie rod holding means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said tie rod holding means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said tie rod holding means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axiallydirected stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said tie rod holding means and thereby facilitate movement of said tie rod holding means relative to said tie rod.

2. A tie rod clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tie rod holding means and said restraining means have interacting surfaces thereon which prevent said tie rod holding means from moving into its said position where said portion thereof extends through said opening in said tie rod and wherein said tie rod holding means is restrained by said restraining means unless said tie rod holding means is given a predetermined orientation relative to said restraining means before said portion of said tie rod holding means is moved toward said opening in said tie rod.

3. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stressrelieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency to said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stressrelieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axiallydirected stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said lock means having an inclined surface thereon to engage a cooperating inclined surface on said stressrelieving means, the inclination of said inclined surface on said lock means and the inclination of said cooperating inclined surface on said stress-relieving means coacting to reduce the force which must be applied to said stress-relieving means to pivot said stress-relieving means out of its said position.

4. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, stress-relieving means, said stress-relieving means being movable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being movable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stressrelieving means being movable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axiallydirected stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means having a portion thereof in bearing engagement with a portion of said lock means whenever said stress-relieving member and said lock member are in their said positions, said stress-relieving means having said portion thereof out of bearing engagement with said portion of said lock means whenever said stress-relieving member is out of its said position, and a pivot on said clamp base which secures said stress-relieving means to said clamp base, said stressrelieving means being pivotable about said pivot and hence relative to said clamp base to pivot said portion thereof into and out of bearing engagement with said portion of said lock means.

5. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stressrelieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said lock means having an inclined surface thereon which is selectively engageabie by a similarly inclined surface on said stress-relieving means, said inclined surface on said lock means and said similarly inclined surface on said stress-relieving means having inclinations which tend to favor separation of said stress-relie ing means from said lock means but said inclinations being of such an angle whereby said inclinations can not respond to said tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form to cause pivoting of said stress-relieving means away from said lock means.

6. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a portion wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, stress-relieving means, said stress-relieving means being movable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being movable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stressrelieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stressrelieving means being movable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axiallydirected stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, and a pivot on said clamp base which secures said stressrelieving means to said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable about said pivot and hence relative to said clamp base, said stressrelieving means having a portion thereof which can respond to the application of forces thereto to apply substantial torque to said stress-relieving means to readily pivot said stress-relieving means about said pivot and thereby readily disengage said stress-relieving means from said lock means even though the contact force between said stress-relieving means and said lock means is large.

7. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base adapted to be attached to said concrete form, outwardly-extending projections on said clamp base at spaced-apart locations having aligned openings therein which are adapted to be aligned with an opening in a tie rod, lock means which can be moved into a position wherein portions thereof are disposed within said openings in said outwardly-extending projections and said opening in said tie rod to limit relative movement between said tie rod and said clamp base, and stress relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position wherein it is in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base so said stress-relieving means and said lock means can co-act to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said portions thereof are disposed within said openings in said outwardly-extending projections and said opening in said tie rod and said stressrelieving means being pivotable into its said position wherein it engages said lock means prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stressrelieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stressrelieving means being pivotable out of its said position wherein it is in engagement with said lock means to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod.

8. A tie rod clamp as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stress-relieving means is adjacent the inner ends of said openings in said outwardly-extending projections, and wherein said stress-relieving means holds said lock means outwardly of said inner ends of said openings in said outwardly-extending projections.

9. A tie rod clamp as claimed in claim 7 wherein one of said outwardly-extending projections has a surface thereon which interacts with a surface on said lock means to keep said lock means from extending fully into the opening in the other of said outwardly-extending projections unless said lock means is given a predetermined orientation relative to said outwardly-extending projections.

10. A tie rod clamp as claimed in claim 7 wherein one of said outwardly-extending projections has a notch therein which is contiguous to said opening in said one of said outwardly-extending projections but wherein the other of said outwardly-extending projections does not have a corresponding notch, wherein said lock means has a projection thereon which will readily pass through said notch in said one of said outwardlyextending projections when said lock means has a predetermined orientation relative to said outwardlyextending projections and when said projection on said lock means is located at one side of said one of said outwardly-extending projections and will thereby enable said lock means to extend fully into said aligned openings in said outwardly-extending projections, and wherein said projection on said lock means will be intercepted by either of said outwardly-extending projections, and will keep said lock means from extending fully into said aligned openings in said outwardlyextending projections, if said lock means is given any other orientation.

11. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used withsaid concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stressrelieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axiallydirected stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means having a first contact surface thereon to engage a cooperating contact surface on said lock means and having a second contact surface thereon to engage a cooperating surface on said clamp base, said first contact surface on said stress-relieving means being movable out of engagement with said cooperating contact surface on said lock means and said second contact surface on said stress-relieving means being movable out of engagement with said cooperating surface on said clamp base as said stressrelieving means is pivoted out of its said position, the movement of said first contact surface on said stressrelieving means out of engagement with said cooperating contact surface on said lock means permitting ready movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod.

12. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to aid concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, stress-relieving means, said stressrelieving means being movable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being movable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means having a surface thereon which engages a cooperating surface on said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means is in its said position but which is out of engagement with said cooperating surface on said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means is out of its said position, and a pivot on said clamp base, said stressrelieving means being pivotable about said pivot on said clamp base to pivot said surface on said stressrelieving means into and out of engagement with said cooperating surface on said lock means, said surface on said stress-relieving means moving transversely of said cooperating surface on said lock means as said stressrelieving means pivots about said pivot on said clamp base.

13. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stressrelieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod an i'to relieve said stresses in said lock means and th eby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said lock means having an inclined surface thereon to engage a similarly inclined contact surface on said stress-relieving means, said stressrelieving means being disposed between and engaging said inclined contact surface on said lock means and a surface on said clamp base whenever said stress-relieving means is in its said position, said similarly inclined contact surface on said stress-relieving means being out of engagement with said inclined contact surface on 16 said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means is out of its said position.

14. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base adapted to be attached to said concrete form, outwardly-extending projections on said clamp base at spaced-apart locations having aligned openings therein which are adapted to be aligned with an opening in a tie rod, lock means which can be moved into a position wherein portions thereof are disposed within said openings in said outwardly-extending projections and said opening in said tie rod to limit relative movement between said tie rod and said clamp base, and stress-relieving means, said stress-relieving means being movable into a position wherein it is in engagement with said lock means and adjacent said clamp base so said stress-relieving means and said lock means can co-act to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position relative to said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being movable into its said position wherein it engages said lock means prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being movable out of its said position wherein it is in engagement with said lock means to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said clamp base having a wall defining an opening therein to receive said tie rod, said outwardly-extending projections being located at opposite sides of said opening in said wall of said clamp base, and a pivot that pivotally secures said stress-relieving means to said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being located above said outwardly-extending projections and having depending contact members with inclined surfaces extending downwardly at locations spaced between said outwardly-extending members and the center of said opening in said wall of said clamp base, said stressrelieving means being pivotally about said pivot into and out of register with said lock means, and said stress-relieving means having a torque arm spaced from said pivot for applying substantial torque to said stressrelieving means to readily pivot said stress-relieving means out of engagement with said lock means even though the contact force between said stress-relieving means and said lock means is large.

, It a II t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3 ,927,858 DATED 1 December 23, 1975 v 0 (5 Norman R. Underhill PATENT NO.

it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Patent No. 3,927,858 was assigned on November 29, 1973, to Bennett Supply Co., a corporation of Missouri, located in Maryland Heights, Missouri Signed and Scaled this first Day of June1976 {SEAL} Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN ff Commissioner uflarvm: and Trademarks 

1. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod holding means which can be moved into a position wherein a portion thereof extends through an opening in a tie rod that is used with said concrete form, at least one restraining projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive another portion of said tie rod holding means whenever said tie rod holding means is in said position and thereby restrain said tie rod holding means, and hence said tie rod, against substantial rotational movement relative to said clamp base, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said tie rod holding means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said tie rod holding means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said tie rod holding means being movable into its said position wherein said other portion thereof is within said space in said one restraining projection and the first said portion thereof extends through said opening in said tie rod and said stressrelieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said tie rod holding means and also in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said tie rod holding means whenever said stressrelieving means and said tie rod holding means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stressrelieving means and said tie rod holding means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said tie rod holding means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said tie rod holding means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stressrelieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said tie rod holding means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said tie rod holding means and thereby facilitate movement of said tie rod holding means relative to said tie rod.
 2. A tie rod clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tie rod holding means and said restraining means have interacting surfaces thereon which prevent said tie rod holding means from moving into its said position where said portion thereof extends through said opening in said tie rod and wherein said tie rod holding means is restrained by said restraining means unless said tie rod holding means is given a predetermined orientation relative to said restraining means before said portion of said tie rod holding means is moved toward said opening in said tie rod.
 3. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency to said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relievE said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said lock means having an inclined surface thereon to engage a cooperating inclined surface on said stress-relieving means, the inclination of said inclined surface on said lock means and the inclination of said cooperating inclined surface on said stress-relieving means coacting to reduce the force which must be applied to said stress-relieving means to pivot said stress-relieving means out of its said position.
 4. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, stress-relieving means, said stress-relieving means being movable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being movable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being movable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means having a portion thereof in bearing engagement with a portion of said lock means whenever said stress-relieving member and said lock member are in their said positions, said stress-relieving means having said portion thereof out of bearing engagement with said portion of said lock means whenever said stress-relieving member is out of its said position, and a pivot on said clamp base which secures said stress-relieving means to said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable about said pivot and hence relative to said clamp base to pivot said portion thereof into and out of bearing engagement with said portion of said lock means.
 5. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said lock means having an inclined surface thereon which is selectively engageable by a similarly inclined surface on said stress-relieving means, said inclined surface on said lock means and said similarly inclined surface on said stress-relieving means having inclinations which tend to favor separation of said stress-relieving means from said lock means but said inclinations being of such an angle whereby said inclinations can not respond to said tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form to cause pivoting of said stress-relieving means away from said lock means.
 6. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a portion wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, stress-relieving means, said stress-relieving means being movable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie Rod and said stress-relieving means being movable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being movable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, and a pivot on said clamp base which secures said stress-relieving means to said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable about said pivot and hence relative to said clamp base, said stress-relieving means having a portion thereof which can respond to the application of forces thereto to apply substantial torque to said stress-relieving means to readily pivot said stress-relieving means about said pivot and thereby readily disengage said stress-relieving means from said lock means even though the contact force between said stress-relieving means and said lock means is large.
 7. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base adapted to be attached to said concrete form, outwardly-extending projections on said clamp base at spaced-apart locations having aligned openings therein which are adapted to be aligned with an opening in a tie rod, lock means which can be moved into a position wherein portions thereof are disposed within said openings in said outwardly-extending projections and said opening in said tie rod to limit relative movement between said tie rod and said clamp base, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position wherein it is in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base so said stress-relieving means and said lock means can co-act to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said portions thereof are disposed within said openings in said outwardly-extending projections and said opening in said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being pivotable into its said position wherein it engages said lock means prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movemEnt of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being pivotable out of its said position wherein it is in engagement with said lock means to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod.
 8. A tie rod clamp as claimed in claim 7 wherein said stress-relieving means is adjacent the inner ends of said openings in said outwardly-extending projections, and wherein said stress-relieving means holds said lock means outwardly of said inner ends of said openings in said outwardly-extending projections.
 9. A tie rod clamp as claimed in claim 7 wherein one of said outwardly-extending projections has a surface thereon which interacts with a surface on said lock means to keep said lock means from extending fully into the opening in the other of said outwardly-extending projections unless said lock means is given a predetermined orientation relative to said outwardly-extending projections.
 10. A tie rod clamp as claimed in claim 7 wherein one of said outwardly-extending projections has a notch therein which is contiguous to said opening in said one of said outwardly-extending projections but wherein the other of said outwardly-extending projections does not have a corresponding notch, wherein said lock means has a projection thereon which will readily pass through said notch in said one of said outwardly-extending projections when said lock means has a predetermined orientation relative to said outwardly-extending projections and when said projection on said lock means is located at one side of said one of said outwardly-extending projections and will thereby enable said lock means to extend fully into said aligned openings in said outwardly-extending projections, and wherein said projection on said lock means will be intercepted by either of said outwardly-extending projections, and will keep said lock means from extending fully into said aligned openings in said outwardly-extending projections, if said lock means is given any other orientation.
 11. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperatinG with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means having a first contact surface thereon to engage a cooperating contact surface on said lock means and having a second contact surface thereon to engage a cooperating surface on said clamp base, said first contact surface on said stress-relieving means being movable out of engagement with said cooperating contact surface on said lock means and said second contact surface on said stress-relieving means being movable out of engagement with said cooperating surface on said clamp base as said stress-relieving means is pivoted out of its said position, the movement of said first contact surface on said stress-relieving means out of engagement with said cooperating contact surface on said lock means permitting ready movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod.
 12. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, stress-relieving means, said stress-relieving means being movable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being movable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means having a surface thereon which engages a cooperating surface on said lock means whenever sAid stress-relieving means is in its said position but which is out of engagement with said cooperating surface on said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means is out of its said position, and a pivot on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable about said pivot on said clamp base to pivot said surface on said stress-relieving means into and out of engagement with said cooperating surface on said lock means, said surface on said stress-relieving means moving transversely of said cooperating surface on said lock means as said stress-relieving means pivots about said pivot on said clamp base.
 13. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base attachable to said concrete form, a tie rod lock means, a projection on said clamp base which defines a space to receive a portion of said lock means, said lock means being releasably movable into a position wherein a further portion thereof is disposed adjacent a tie rod that is used with said concrete form while the first said portion thereof is in said space defined by said projection, and stress-relieving means pivotable about a point on said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotable into a position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base wherein said stress-relieving means and said lock means can coact to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position wherein said first said portion thereof is within said space defined by said projection and wherein said further portion thereof is adjacent said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being pivotable into its said position in engagement with said lock means and also in engagement with said clamp base prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being pivotable out of its said position and hence being movable relative to said lock means and relative to said clamp base to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said lock means having an inclined surface thereon to engage a similarly inclined contact surface on said stress-relieving means, said stress-relieving means being disposed between and engaging said inclined contact surface on said lock means and a surface on said clamp base whenever said stress-relieving means is in its said position, said similarly inclined contact surface on said stress-relieving means being out of engagement with said inclined contact surface on said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means is out of its said position.
 14. A tie rod clamp for a concrete form having a clamp base adapted to be attached to said concrete form, outwardly-extending projections on said clamp base at spaced-apart locations having alignEd openings therein which are adapted to be aligned with an opening in a tie rod, lock means which can be moved into a position wherein portions thereof are disposed within said openings in said outwardly-extending projections and said opening in said tie rod to limit relative movement between said tie rod and said clamp base, and stress-relieving means, said stress-relieving means being movable into a position wherein it is in engagement with said lock means and adjacent said clamp base so said stress-relieving means and said lock means can co-act to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, said lock means being movable into its said position relative to said tie rod and said stress-relieving means being movable into its said position wherein it engages said lock means prior to the placement of concrete in said concrete form, said form responding to said placement of concrete therein to tend to move said clamp base in a predetermined direction relative to said tie rod, said stress-relieving means cooperating with said lock means whenever said stress-relieving means and said lock means are in their said positions and said concrete form tends to move said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod to transmit forces from said clamp base to said tie rod, whereby said stress-relieving means and said lock means and said tie rod can coact to limit movement of said clamp base in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said tie rod developing axially-directed stresses therein and said lock means and said stress-relieving means developing stresses therein as said stress-relieving means and said lock means coact to transmit said forces from said clamp base to said tie rod in response to the tendency of said clamp base to move in said predetermined direction relative to said tie rod in response to said placement of concrete in said concrete form, said stress-relieving means being movable out of its said position wherein it is in engagement with said lock means to relieve said axially-directed stresses in said tie rod and to relieve said stresses in said lock means and thereby facilitate movement of said lock means relative to said tie rod, said clamp base having a wall defining an opening therein to receive said tie rod, said outwardly-extending projections being located at opposite sides of said opening in said wall of said clamp base, and a pivot that pivotally secures said stress-relieving means to said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being located above said outwardly-extending projections and having depending contact members with inclined surfaces extending downwardly at locations spaced between said outwardly-extending members and the center of said opening in said wall of said clamp base, said stress-relieving means being pivotally about said pivot into and out of register with said lock means, and said stress-relieving means having a torque arm spaced from said pivot for applying substantial torque to said stress-relieving means to readily pivot said stress-relieving means out of engagement with said lock means even though the contact force between said stress-relieving means and said lock means is large. 